Casino Rueda from Cuba has also had a big influence on the Miami style of salsa. Salsa dancing as we know it today was mainly developed in the Latin Quarter in New York City. The Rumba originates from Cuba and it was first seen in the United States around 1920. The basic step of salsa dancing probably derives from the Rumba, often called the grandfather of the Latin dances. Notice that the cow bell sounds on the first and third beats of each measure.

Students are seldom able to understand the dance fully until they are able to count the music and the step timing correctly.

Learning to count the music correctly is the first big hurdle for beginners. Recall that the step timing is counted quick, quick, slow quick, quick, slow. In other words, three steps are taken to four beats of music. In both dances three steps are taken during each measure of music. While the music tempo of rumba is typically 104 beats per minute, the music tempo of salsa is typically 180 to 210 beats per minute. In the music, the heavy beat is the one beat, the first beat of the measure. Two measures of music are required to complete one full basic step. Salsa and Rumba music are both written in 4/4 time, with four beats to each measure. Though salsa is danced at approximately twice the tempo of the Rumba, the two dances share much in common. Most beginners start the dance on the first beat of the measure. Depending on how you hear and feel the music, you may start the dance on any beat of the measure you wish. Each quick consumes one beat of music, each slow consumes two beats of music. Dance teachers count the step timing as quick, quick, slow quick, quick, slow.

The step timing can be thought of as step, step, step, pause step, step, step, pause.

Salsa is danced by stepping on 3 consecutive beats of music and then pausing for 1 beat, then repeating.

The Character of Salsa and the Different Styles of Salsa.

An Introduction to the Basic Step of Salsa

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